An Acceptable Time

Miles was snuggling with his Mamaw on the couch and asked me to snuggle, too.  I told him that there wasn't enough room, but I laid my head next to his and asked if that would work.


His sighed response? "That's acceptable."

Career Choice?

"Vrooooom!  Vrooom"
"Oh, are you a truck?"
"Yes, I'm an ice cream truck."


"I deliver ice cream for everyone!"

Fair Warning

Miles to Daddy:


"I have an idea, Daddy!"


"Oh yeah? What's your idea?"


"My idea is: If you tell me 'no,' I'll cry!"


"Let me get this straight: Your idea is that if I have to tell you no you will cry about it?"


"Yes!"

Mama Fail

Miles woke up early this morning saying, "I think I feel sick!"


He said it with such energy, though, that I thought it was a ploy to get me to take him downstairs, so I went to his room, replied, "Well, it's still sleepy time.  Lay down with me and we'll see if Mommy cuddles make you feel better."


He gave me an unconvinced, "Ok," and snuggled up with me.


Moments later he coughed and gagged, "Um, Mommy, I don't think this is workin'."

Sharing, Milo Style

Miles found a buckeye in a tin of cookies that we got as a Christmas present. He agreed with his daddy to share it, but insisted that he hold it himself. After a couple of minutes his daddy asked if there was a bite left. Miles looked at his chocolate covered, but otherwise empty hand, and said "It's OK daddy, you can lick my fingers!"

A Taste of Heaven

Miles loves the snow.  At a still-young 2 he has no memory of the fluffy stuff from his first two winters, so his experience of it is as fresh as the snow itself.  We got him a couple nights ago and the snow was coming down steadily.  Miles danced around the deck for a few moments, then started the taste tests.

And for a bit of nostalgia- here he is 2 years ago.  This picture was on the front page of one of the Cincinnati  news websites for the better part of a day, representing the crazy snow storm that was pounding us.

I'll have to get a similar picture of Quentin this winter.

Backseat Driver

We were waiting on the off-ramp, trying to get onto Polaris Parkway, and as usual it was slow going.  From the backseat we get this advice:


"We need to get on the sidewalk. There are too many cars right here!"


I'm not sure where he saw this brilliant idea in action, but I blamed Daddy. :)

Tropical Christmas

Miles and I were playing an online color sorting game.  I clicked on the little tree that we had to move to a colored box and the game stated: "Pine Tree."


Me: What color is this Christmas tree, Miles?
Him, with a head shake: That's not a Christmas tree, mommy!  That's a pineapple tree!

Milestones Galore

Quentin has started clapping all the time this week, as a newly 8 months old.  Miles loves this and they have been clapping together all afternoon.  Q is also making this silly face where he blinks really hard and smushes up the rest of his face, too.  I wasn't sure what he was doing until we were at the Rec Center yesterday and I saw my boss making the same face at him across the counter!


Miles decided earlier this week that the wanted to use the potty.  He's been pretty much dry during the day ever since!  He's also sleeping better than he ever has and has started to recognize letters.


It's been a good week.

Stand Tall

At 7 1/2 months the Fury is cruising the furniture at break-neck speed and standing unassisted for a few seconds at a time.  It's pretty funny to see since he can barely see the top of the coffee table because he's so short.

I joked that he'd be walking by Christmas.  I probably shouldn't have.

Christmas Joy

Miles was opening his first present of the season at McGee Christmas (Nathan's mom's family).  He stood in front of the crowd of aunts, uncles and cousins, stated his name and age ("One, no TWO!"), sang Jingle Bells at the request of someone in the crowd, then opened his gift...

With eyes wide he exclaims with that baby voice, "OOOH!  It's a saxophone!"

And it was.  I was proud.  So were his uncles that I heard bragging to their cousins!

Mmmm

We've reached one of first literacy milestones.  Miles consistently recognizes the letter M when he sees it. I sent him to the fridge to get the M for daddy and he came back with both the M and the W, held upside-down. :)  He also knows the sound "mmm" is M. :)

Big Bad Brainiac

Miles was climbing all over Nathan on the playroom floor, getting him to play air plane and otherwise having a blast.

Daddy got tired and sat up, and Miles just stood for a second looking at him thoughtfully.  Then Miles lit up and declared, "I'm the Big Bad Wolf! I'll huff and puff and blow you down!" He blows a puff of air at Daddy who can't resist falling to the ground- and Miles runs back over and climbs on, giggling.   Problem solved- daddy down!

Observations

We were watching Happy Feet last night and I was amazed at how much of it he understood.

For instance, when Mumble is in the zoo dancing for the little girl and the crowds start pouring in.  He says, "All those people are coming to watch him move his feet!"

Ok, so that seems obvious, but it wasn't stated and I am amazed that my 26 month old has such good comprehension of the story line, even the unspoken parts.  Not to mention that he sat and watched the entire full-length movie with that level on interest and engagement.

Happy birthday Mommy

I was cuddling with Miles in his bed this morning.
He woke up and said, "It's time to go downstairs!"
Me: Give me just one minute.  (A line he gives me all the time.)
Him: Ok.  ONE minute.

Then he yawns and says, "Hmm, it sounds like I'm still sleepy!"

He laid back down and fell asleep for another 2 hours!  Or maybe it was 2 hours and ONE minute.

Contemplative

Miles tells us frequently that he'll have to "tink about it," when we ask him a question.  Then he falls quiet, occasionally giving a "hmm" or tilting his head, weighing his options.  We weren't sure if this was just a stall tactic or way of putting us off.

Daddy: What is your favorite thing to work on, Miles?
Miles: Hmm.  I'll have to tink about that.

He falls silent in his car set for several blocks and daddy looks back to see him staring out the window.

Daddy: What are you thinking about, Monkey?
Miles: I'm just thinking about what my favorite thing is to work on.  Probably shelves.


In the same vein, I give him a choice between two pair of pajamas each evening.  He takes this decision very seriously.  Last night I held up a red pair with a race car on the front and a blue pair with a cool dinosaur.

Me: Red or blue?
Miles, muttering to himself, head tipping side to side with the weight of the choice:  Red- it has a car.  Hmm.  I like that dinosaur. Blue!  No.  Hmm.  Red? Blue?  Car? Dinosaur?  Hmm.

He finally chose the red.

I hope he remains so thoughtful about his choices as he grows older.

So grown up

Miles, looking sad, told me, "I really, really want to see my daddy."  I told him that we could call daddy at work when he was ready for bed if he wanted.

"Ok, I feel a little better now."

Close Call

Miles bursts into the playroom and drops two balls into a toy box.  "Whew, that was a close one!"

"What was close?"

"I had to get those balls away from the monsters.  That's what I mean."

Storyteller

Miles, looking at the floor and then up at me, spoon in hand: "Once upon a time there was yogurt on the floor..." 
Mommy: "Yeah? Then what happened?" 
Miles: "I cleaned it up with a washcloth?"
Mommy: "There is a wipe on the table you can use. Thank you."
Miles: "You're welcome.  The end!"

Fair Play

Miles likes tv, especially the preschool shows on Nick Jr like Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies and Ni Hao, Kai Lan.  He's learned so much and they are actually pretty fun for me to watch, too.

Sometimes it is just not his turn, though. And he doesn't really like that.

"Mommy, let's watch MY show!"
"No, it's my turn to pick a show."
"Well, then let's watch something we BOTH like!"
"What show do we both like?"
"Umizoomi!"

Heeeeere's Miles!

We've been going to storytime at the library each Wednesday.  Miles is by far the most talkative kid that attends.  He answers all the questions- unless they are about colors- and is just generally very friendly.

We walked in last week and the librarian looked up and said, "Oh, look!  It's our social director!"

A mere suggestion, really.

"Mommy, I have to tell yous somethin.  Just somethin to think 'bout."

"Oh, what should I think about?"

"Getting me something to drink.  Probably apple juice."

Here Comes Trouble

Quentin pulled himself up to a full stand this evening, and then sat back down on his own!

He's also crawled a bit, too.

We're in for so much trouble! He's only 6 months old!

Like, Seriously.

I was getting Miles into his pjs for bed when he pointed to a shirt laying next to us.  The shirt is 3-6 month, but still fits my tiny two year old well enough that Daddy put it on him last week.

Miles: That's MY shirt.

Me: Actually, it's Quentin's.

Miles: Nope, it's mine.

Me (laughing): Nope, it's Quentin's.

Miles (very seriously): No, really, it's my shirt.

Good Eats

I got to Mom & Dad's last night to pick up the boys, Chipotle in hand.  I was standing in the doorway watching Miles play when he turned and saw me.  He lit up and came running.  My heart was just about to melt when he snatched the Chipotle bag from me, and exclaimed,

 "I love this stuff!"

Inspired

This morning in his room, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed:

"Mommy!  I thought of an idea!"
"Oh, what is your idea?"
"Let's go downstairs and watch MY show.  That's a good idea."

Exit Stage Right

Miles loves the marching band and noticed the drum major conducting the band at the last football game we attended.  Ever since he's been finding boxes and buckets to stand on so that he can conduct. He'll tell us what instrument to play- usually tuba and trumpet.  Then he swings his arms wildly while we make noises that sound sort of brassy.

Afterward:
"Thank you, Mommy, for playing the tuba.  Thank you, Daddy, for playing the trumpet.  And thank you, thank you EVERYONE.  Thank you for helping me to conduct." Then he takes a deep bow.

Holiday Spirit

Thanks to an early trick or treat event at the campground and a couple shows on Nick Jr, Miles is very into Halloween and costumes right now.  Every time I ask what he wants to be he's got a different idea- robot, rocket ship, princess, conductor (musical kind), tuba player.

Yesterday at story time the librarian asked him what he wants to be.  "A hot dog. I'll say 'Hot Diggity Dog!"

Smarty Pants

Just a couple recent phrases that have caught us off guard because they sound so grown up:

On trying to get him to come in the house out of a rainstorm, "Mommy, that rain doesn't bother me!"

Leaving the playroom, he picks up a ball, "I'm outta here."

Sweet Manners

Miles asked Nathan for a piece of candy from his (early) Halloween loot this morning.  Nathan suggested that they share some M&Ms and practice Miles' colors. 

Miles response: "No thank you.  I just want a sucker."

Mama!

When I picked the boys up tonight Quentin heard me, turned his head and said, "MAMAMA!" I keep telling myself it is probably coincidence since he's only 6 months, but it would be nice to have him say it before he's 16 months old, like his brother!

Oops!

After missing a ball that was tossed to him:

"Oh man! That wasn't supposed to happen!"

Opportunity Knocks

We were walking home from the library and Miles was busy asking what everyone was doing. 

Then he points across the street

Miles: What is THAT doing?
Daddy: What are you pointing at? The swingset?
Miles: Yes. What is it doing?
Daddy: It's just sitting there, waiting for someone to come swing.
Miles: Oh! Well, let's go do that!

Shape Logic

To kick things off, a story from this evening.  I should say, as an introduction to both the story and my little boy, that he is obsessed with sports.  He is learning basic shapes still, but can accurately name at least 5 different kinds of balls (baseball, basketball, football, volleyball and soccer ball).

Miles brings me a shape book and starts naming shapes.  "Datsa triangle Mommy.  Datsa rectangle." I point at a circle and he pauses, then respondes hesitantly, "Datsa, um... a balltangle?"